Qualcomm today has announced the latest addition to its 2-series, the 215 Mobile Platform. Qualcomm says the new platform is aimed at devices in the $100 (~Rs 6,800) price range, which constitute 50 percent of India’s smartphone market.

The Qualcomm 215 marks a number of first for the 2-series, most notably in that it comes with 64-bit CPU architecture. Consequently, it will support 64-bit full Android as well as Android Go. This is a timely upgrade given that Google has mandated that all apps on the Play Store must offer 64-bit versions starting August 1st. The chipset features four ARM Cortex-A53 cores clocked up to 1.3GHz, an Adreno 308 GPU and up to 3GB of LPDDR3 RAM. An integrated Qualcomm Hexagon DSP allows for low-power sensor and audio processing. Qualcomm says it is capable of delivering 20+ hours of voice calls and 10+ hours of video playback. Quick Charge support is also available.

Another highlight of the Qualcomm 215 is that it supports dual ISPs, which will enable dual cameras (8MP) on entry-level phones. This means phones using the platform can offer a telephoto lens with optical zoom or a depth sensor for portrait mode shots. With a single camera, it can capture 13MP photos and 1080p videos at 30fps. The platform also supports HD+ resolution (1,560 x 720 pixels) displays with a tall aspect ratio of 19:5:9.

“Featuring a 64-bit CPU and dual-ISPs, the Qualcomm 215 Mobile Platform is a significant milestone for the expansion of the entire mobile industry. We’re raising the bar for mass market devices and enabling experiences that were never before possible in the 2-series,” said Kedar Kondap, VP of Product Management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Qualcomm says the 215 Mobile Platform is expected on devices in the second half of 2019, priced between $70 – $120 (~Rs 4,800 -Rs 8,200). While the platform is certainly a big upgrade for the 2-series, it’s worth mentioning that devices with Snapdragon 4-series and 6-series processors are already available in this price range in India.

Ketaki has 10 years experience writing on tech, having worked at the Hindu Business Line and 91mobiles earlier. When she's not editing copies or reviewing the latest gadgets, she spends her time binge-watching Netflix and reading fantasy fiction.